Handrail for fire escapes



April -l, 1930. R. w. DOWNES HAND RAIL FOR F IRE ESCAPES Filed April 17, 1929 W m. M n 0 2 m 6 2 a .3 m Q L m a 4 2 m 1 W /O- m 6 Z T JV R 2 a W 4 c w v 0 4 m 8 e h .1 m

Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH W. DOWNES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO NATE W. IJOWNES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI HANDRAIL FOR FIRE ESCAPE-S Application filed April 17,

My invention relates to hand rails for use at the entrances of tubular fire-escapes such as are installed on school and other buildings, and one object is to provide an appliance of this character which will accommodate persons of different heights and aid the advancement of persons into the tube so that there will be no delay in getting into proper position for sliding down to safety.

A further object is to arrange the hand rails in such manner that two small children may simultaneously enter the tube and thus materially reduce the time required for evacuating a burning building.

Another object is to so arrange the hand rails that they can be readily found by the blind of an asylum who are generally instructed to grope their way along the wall leading to the fire-escape.

Other objects will hereinafter appear and in order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the entrance to the fire-escape, the doors being closed and the adjacent floor structure being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 1, with the doors in open position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the different parts, A designates the upper portion of a tubular fire escape, the entrance to which is controlled by a pair of doors B hinged to a frame C and which when opened, swing into the entrance of the fire escape. The foregoing may be of usual or any preferred construction.

Referring now more particularly to the parts constituting the present invention, 2 designates a hand rail which extends transversely across the upper portion of the doorway and is securely fastened at its ends to the door frame C by any suitable means, screws 4 being shown in the present instance. As disclosed more clearly by Fig. 1, the hand rail 2 is bent downwardly intermediate its ends as indicated at 6 so that it can be readily reached by persons of different heights, the lower portion 6 also serving to center the 1929. Serial No. 355,919.

person at the entrance of the tube A, thereby I I hand rail 2 and extend downwardly close to the opposite sides of the door frame 0. In the present instance, I have shown T-couplings 12 for uniting the hand rails 10 with the hand rail 2, although other means of securement such aswelding, for instance, may be substituted. The lower portions of the hand rails 10 are curved outwardly in opposite directions and then backwardly as indicated at 16 towards the door frame C, to which they are firmly secured by suitable means such as screws 18.

' All of the hand rails may be made of any suitable fire-proof material, such for instance as smooth metal tubings which are flattened at their ends as indicated at 20 and 22 to provide a fiat bearing surface against the door frame C and so that said ends may be drilled or punched for the passage of the screws 4 and 18 or other fastening means employed.

With the hand rails 6 and 10 arranged as shown and described it is apparent that adults or large children may easily grasp the lower intermediate portion 6 of the hand rail 2, while smaller children may grasp the hand rails 10 and swing themselves into the entrance of the fire escape to facilitate their descent to safety. Also by having the hand rails project away from the door frame as shown and described, they can be more readily found by the blind, who in asylums, are taught in fire drills to grope their way along the wall to the entrance of the fire escape.

successfully withstand all strains to which they are likely to be subjected while in use.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, I reserve all rights to The hand rails 6 and 10 also con- & stitute a brace for each other so that they may such other forms and modifications thereof as properly fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a fire escape having an entrance thereto, a hand rail extending across said entrance and secured to the opposite sides of the latter, said hand rail having a depression intermediate its ends.

2. In combination with a fire escape having an entrance thereto, a hand rail extending across said entrance and which is bent backwardly near its ends and secured to the o posite sides of the entrance, said hand rail al SO having a depression intermediate its ends.

3. In combination with a fire escape hav- 2o ing an entrance thereto, a hand rail extending across said entrance and secured to the opposite sides of the latter, and a downwardly extending hand rail secured to the firstmentioned hand rail and one side of the 26 entrance.

4. In combination with a fire escape hav ing an entrance thereto, a hand rail extending across said entrance and secured to the opposite sides of the latter, and a pair of hand 80 rails secured at their upper ends to the firstmentioned rail and at their lower ends to opposite sides of the entrance.

5. In combination with a fire escape having an entrance thereto, a hand rail extend 85 ing across said entrance and which is bent backwardly near its ends and secured to the opposite sides of the entrance, and two hand rails secured at their upper ends to the firstmentioned hand rail and which are bent backwardly at their lower portions and secured to opposite sides of the entrance.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

RALPH W. DOWNES. 

